octreotide (Sandostatin, Sandostatin LAR)

Omudhome Ogbru, PharmD

Dr. Ogbru received his Doctorate in Pharmacy from the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy in 1995. He completed a Pharmacy Practice Residency at the University of Arizona/University Medical Center in 1996. He was a Professor of Pharmacy Practice and a Regional Clerkship Coordinator for the University of the Pacific School of Pharmacy from 1996-99.

Jay W. Marks, MD

Jay W. Marks, MD, is a board-certified internist and gastroenterologist. He graduated from Yale University School of Medicine and trained in internal medicine and gastroenterology at UCLA/Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles.

GENERIC NAME: octreotide acetate

BRAND NAME: Sandostatin, Sandostatin LAR

DRUG CLASS AND MECHANISM: Octreotide acetate is an injectable medicine that
is very similar to the hormone somatostatin, which is naturally produced in the
body that has several effects including inhibition of the release of hormones.
Octreotide works in a similar fashion as somatostatin, but is degraded more
slowly and is a stronger inhibitor of glucagon, growth hormone, and insulin
release. Like somatostatin, octreotide also decreases the release of growth
stimulating hormones, decreases blood flow to the digestive organs, and inhibits
the release of digestive hormones such as serotonin, gastrin, vasoactive
intestinal peptide, secretin, motilin, and pancreatic polypeptide. Based on
these actions, octreotide acetate is used to treat symptoms of severe diarrhea
and flushing caused by cancer.

Octreotide is also used to treat acromegaly. Acromegaly is a rare hormonal
disorder that affects adults in which there is an over production of growth
hormone that leads to the abnormal growth of the hands, feet, or facial
features. Octreotide significantly decreases the levels of growth hormone and
IGF-I (somatomedin C) in patients with acromegaly.

Other actions of octreotide include suppression of thyroid stimulating
hormone (TSH) release, inhibition of gallbladder contractility, and the
secretion of bile.

The FDA approved octreotide acetate in October 1988.

PRESCRIBED FOR: Octreotide acetate is a prescription medicine used to treat
certain patients with acromegaly. Specially, octreotide acetate is used to treat
acromegaly in patients who have responded inadequately to or tare not candidates
for surgery, pituitary irradiation, or treatment with high dose bromocriptine
mesylate (Cycloset) therapy.